Queen Mary's Daughter
by Emily-Jane Hills Orford
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GENRE: historical fiction/fantasy
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BLURB:
There are so many possibilities that affect the course of history. One change, one small item overlooked, can make a world of difference, not only in a person's life, but in the history and well-being of an entire nation. And then there are those multiple scenarios of what if? What if King James VI of Scotland didn't succeed in amalgamating Scotland with England? What if there had been another heir to the throne of Scotland? One who would secure its independence? Would Scotland have remained free and independent and a nation of its own well into the twenty-first century? And would Scotland, this independent version, make its own decision to join the European Union when its southern neighbor was choosing to pull away?
"Queen Mary's Daughter" presents another plausible timeline, one that incorporates both historical fact and fiction with the endless possibilities of time travel.
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Excerpt Two:
“What?” the regent bellowed. “Not another Mary, and a Stuart at that. We cannot be related. Are we?” He winced in the dim light and bent forward to take a closer look. “You have her look about you. It is uncanny. You could almost pass for her. And that brooch. Where did you get that brooch?”
“I do not know, sir.” Mary Elizabeth took her time to choose her words carefully. She wasn’t sure how to answer about the brooch, so she steered clear of that comment, saying instead, “Are not all Stuarts somehow related?”
It was not the right thing to say. James Stuart, Regent of Scotland, was not amused. “Grab her. She must be a spy. Or a traitor. Either is punishable by death.” He pointed accusing fingers at the others. “The rest of you stay here. I will deal with this troublemaker.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Emily-Jane Hills Orford is an award-winning author of several books, including Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medalist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. She writes about the extra-ordinary in life and her books, short stories, and articles are receiving considerable attention. For more information on the author, check out her website at:
http://emilyjanebooks.ca
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Interview with Emily-Jane Hills Orford
1. What is your favorite part of this book and why?
When the main character, Mary Elizabeth, meets her mother, Mary Queen of Scots, on the eve of the ill-fated queen’s execution. Why? It’s the powerful mother-daughter meeting. The first time they really get to be together. So much to say, so little time to share. It’s both sad and earth-shattering and full of powerful desires to spend more time together. And it ends too soon, too sudden, with barely a moment for a proper farewell. It exudes the power of the mother-daughter bond.
2. If you could spend time with a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?
Marie de Guise, the mother of Mary Queen of Scots, grandmother of the main character, Mary Elizabeth. I fashioned this grandmotherly figure after my grandmother (Gran): smart, bright, full of life and full of stories. It’s been over twenty years since Gran passed away, but not a day goes by when I don’t think of her and find a way to place her in one of my stories. She always said we’d soon forget her once she passed away. I’ve proven her wrong. But that was the only thing she wrong about (to my knowledge, anyway). What would we do? If we can’t visit Scotland together, then I’d make a grand Scottish meal: Scotch meat pie, Scotch eggs, and the age-old family recipe for pure Scottish shortbread. Oh yes! And we’d have to have some scones as well, perhaps potato scones. With tea. And we’d chat. Share stories and let our imaginations run wild. I would tell Gran about my novel, “Queen Mary’s Daughter”, and she would probably ask me to read to her.
3. If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?
Jean Plaidy’s “Captive Queen of Scots”. This is the best of her Mary Queen of Scots novels and it’s the one that sparked my interest in this ill-fated queen. The author has a passion for her subject matter and a gift of the descriptive narrative that really brings the reader into the story.
4. Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
Both. Marie de Guise was a real historical person (and she was modelled after my grandmother, another real person). She and her daughter, Mary Queen of Scots, were real. James VI (James I of England, Scotland and Ireland) was real. I had to create characters to fill in the gaps because this isn’t truly historical fiction. With the element of time travel, it’s also science fiction and fantasy.
5. What made you want to become a writer?
A vivid imagination (as my grandmother called it) and the gift of the gab (also my grandmother’s words). My family was full of storytellers. Gran especially. I wanted to carry on that tradition, only I wanted my stories to be written down as well as shared.
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER
Emily-Jane Hills Orford will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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ollow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
Rhys Rivera is the star short-stop for the Longview Lumberjacks. Many know him, even more love him. He has a pretty face, a quick smile, and an air of danger about him that everyone seems to adore.
I’m a married mother of three. My kids are all under 8, so I can assure you that they are a handful. I’ve been with my paramedic husband now for ten years, and we’ve produced three offspring that are nothing like us. I live in the greatest state in the world, Texas.
